What size moving truck do I need?

By the Every Last Box teamSizes checked October 29, 2026How we measureHow we make money

At U‑Haul, a studio to a 2‑bedroom takes the 15 ft truck, a 3‑bedroom takes the 26 ft truck, and a 4‑bedroom to a 5‑bedroom needs more than one truck, by our 3D packing of typical homes. Penske and Budget build theirs differently, so find your home and your company below.

HomeU‑HaulPenskeBudget
Studio15 ft10 ft if packed floor to ceiling12 ft16 ft12 ft if packed floor to ceiling
1 bedroom15 ft16 ft16 ft
2 bedrooms15 ft22 ft16 ft if packed floor to ceiling26 ft
3 bedrooms26 ft26 ft22 ft if packed floor to ceiling26 ft
4 bedroomsNo single truck. Get the biggest and a trailer, or make two trips.
5 bedroomsNo single truck. Get the biggest and a trailer, or make two trips.

Each company builds its trucks a little wider, taller or longer, so the sizes don't line up. A smaller size "if packed floor to ceiling" means our packing came within a few pieces: it works only if you fill every gap. Tap a home size to see it packed, or check your own things in the planner.

For one big piece

Moving justSmallest truck or van that takes it
A king bedPenske high-roof cargo van
A queen mattressEnterprise cargo van
A couchEnterprise cargo van

To empty a storage unit

A full unitHoldsSmallest truck
5x10 storage unitMost of a studio (35 of 36)Penske 12 ft truck
10x10 storage unitMost of a 2‑bedroom (72 of 73)U‑Haul 15 ft truck
10x15 storage unitA whole 2‑bedroomU‑Haul 15 ft truck
10x20 storage unitMost of a 3‑bedroom (106 of 117)Penske 26 ft truck
10x30 storage unitA whole 4‑bedroomTruck + trailer, or two trips
More detail: moving containers, and how we pick

Or in moving containers

HomePODSU‑BoxReloCube
Studio apartment1 × 12 ft2 U‑Boxes2 ReloCubes
1‑bedroom apartment1 × 12 ft3 U‑Boxesthe 3rd takes 2 pieces2 ReloCubes
2‑bedroom apartment1 × 16 ft4 U‑Boxesthe 4th takes 2 pieces3 ReloCubes
3‑bedroom house2 × 16 ft7 U‑Boxesthe 7th takes 5 pieces6 ReloCubesthe 6th takes 1 piece
4‑bedroom house2 × 16 ft + 1 × 12 ft9 U‑Boxes8 ReloCubesthe 8th takes 5 pieces
5‑bedroom house4 × 16 ft + 1 × 8 ft12 U‑Boxes11 ReloCubesthe 11th takes 1 piece

The same lists packed into 5 moving containers: container sizes, PODS container sizes and container or truck.

How we pick

For each home size we use a typical list: the beds, sofas, tables and appliances most homes of that size have, plus the number of boxes a moving guide suggests. Our planner packs that list in 3D into every rental truck and van we have sizes for, the way movers load: heavy furniture first against the cab, mattresses on their edge along the walls, boxes on top. The answer is the smallest one that takes everything and is no more than 85% full, because real loads never pack perfectly.

Your home is not our list. Open a home size in the planner, change the counts to match what you own, and it finds the smallest truck for your list instead.